This year, Zhangjiagang, a county-level city of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, has witnessed continuous improvements in tennis facilities and hosted various activities and events, leading to the sport's growing popularity in the city.
The number of people learning tennis in Zhangjiagang has been rising annually. So far this year, nearly 1,600 new students have enrolled at the Zhangjiagang branch of the China Tennis Academy, marking an increase of nearly 16 percent compared to the same period last year.
Tennis has also become a popular sport in the countryside. Yonglian village, Nanfeng town, has continuously optimized tennis courts in recent years, improving hardware and software quality to uplift residents' sports participation. The tennis event at the village sports meet is a highly sought-after registration. Due to the villagers' passion for tennis, the village has even established a tennis club with over 40 members.
Villagers play tennis in Yonglian village. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
Tennis has also made its way into schools. Jiangfan Primary School in Zhangjiagang recognized as a national campus tennis specialized school, has built indoor and outdoor tennis courts. The school also provides available tennis equipment, ensuring every student can participate in tennis activities.
With the increasing tennis fever, more and more young people in Zhangjiagang are pursuing tennis as a career. Currently, the Zhangjiagang Sports School's tennis team has nearly 100 athletes. Over the past three years, the team has won multiple championships at the Suzhou level, Jiangsu provincial level, and national competitions.